Patent application title: Cooler support shelf

Abstract:

The cooler support shelf is a rectangular platform having each of two
corner sections of one side of the platform perpendicularly connected to
separate vertical rails. The tops of the two rails are curved into hooks
in the direction away from the platform. Diagonal support struts are
connected from opposed sides of the platform to the lower part of each
vertical rail. A horizontal support bar may extend between the
connections of the diagonal support struts and the vertical rails. A hook
and loop restraining strap is connected near the top of each vertical
rail. The two straps can connect around the cooler to keep it in place on
the platform.

Claims:

1. A shelf, comprising:a generally horizontal platform member;two vertical
support rails directly attached to the platform member, the vertical
support rails having top portions curved into hooks and bottom portions
having slots defined therein;two diagonal support rails connecting the
bottom portions of the vertical support rails to an outer side portion of
the platform member; anda horizontal stabilizer bar extending between the
slots in the bottom portions of the vertical support rails.

2. The shelf of claim 1, further comprising two hook and loop fastener
straps, each of the straps being connected to a corresponding one of said
vertical support rails, respectively, the straps helping to retain an
object supported on said platform member.

3. The shelf of claim 1, wherein each vertical support_rail further
includes a platform corner support for supporting said platform member.

4. The shelf of claim 3, further comprising two fasteners, each of the
fasteners extending through aligned apertures defined in said vertical
support rails and in said platform member to thereby attach said platform
member to said vertical support_rails.

5. The shelf of claim 4, wherein each said fastener comprises a bolt and a
wing nut.

6. The shelf of claim 5, wherein each said fastener further comprises a
washer.

7. The shelf of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of slats extending
across said platform member.

8. The shelf of claim 1, wherein the horizontal stabilizer bar includes
threaded portions, the threaded portions extending through an aperture in
the diagonal support rails and through the slots in the bottom portions
of the vertical support rails, the shelf further comprising two
fasteners, each of the fasteners being threaded onto the threaded
portions to retain the horizontal stabilizer bar in the slots.

9. The shelf of claim 8, wherein each said fastener comprises a wing nut.

10. The shelf according to claim 1, wherein said platform member comprises
four flat horizontal members forming an open rectangular frame, each of
the horizontal members having a vertical flange extending orthogonal
thereto around the periphery of the rectangular frame in order to prevent
a base of a cooler from shifting laterally on said platform member.

11. The shelf according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of
slats extending across said rectangular frame.

12. The shelf according to claim 11, further comprising a pair of straps
attached to said vertical support rails, the straps having mating hook
and loop fasteners, the straps being adapted for wrapping around a cooler
placed on said platform member in order to secure the cooler on said s
platform member.

13. The shelf according to claim 11, wherein said platform member, said
vertical support rails, and said diagonal support rails are made from
aluminum.

14. A folding support shelf, comprising:a generally rectangular open frame
forming a horizontal platform member having an aperture in each corner of
one side of the platform;two vertical support rails, each of the rails
having a platform corner support, the vertical support rails each having
an upper portion formed into a hook and a bottom portion having a slot
defined therein;fasteners connecting the vertical support_rails to the
platform member;two diagonal support rails connecting the vertical
support rails to an outer side portion of the platform member; anda
horizontal stabilizer bar extending between the slots in the bottom
portions of the vertical support rails.

15. The support shelf of claim 14, further comprising two hook and loop
fastener straps, the straps being connected to the vertical
support_rails, respectively, for retaining an object supported on said
platform member.

16. The support shelf of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of
fasteners attaching said platform member to the vertical support rails.

17. The support shelf of claim 16, wherein each said fastener comprises a
bolt and a wing nut so that removal of both of said wing nuts from both
of said bolts allows the support shelf to be folded.

18. The support shelf of claim 17, wherein each said fastener further
comprises a washer.

19. The support shelf of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of slats
extending across said platform member.

20. The support shelf of claim 14, wherein the horizontal stabilizer bar
includes threaded portions, the threaded portions extending through an
aperture in the diagonal support rails and through the slots in the
bottom portions of the vertical support rails, the shelf further
comprising two fasteners, each of the fasteners being threaded onto the
threaded portions to retain the horizontal stabilizer bar in the slots.

[0003]The present invention relates to portable and foldable shelves to
support large objects, such as beverage coolers, luggage, bait boxes and
the like. The invention particularly relates to transportable and
foldable shelves that can be removably suspended on the exterior or
interior side of the gunwales or transom of a boat, the back of a chair,
automobile, house doors, etc.

[0004]2. Description of the Related Art

[0005]There are a host of occupations and activities where large, bulky,
moderately heavy containers are used in the vicinity of an individual,
such as a worker or one who is engaging in recreational activities, in
order to store tools, repair kits, game equipment, fishing gear, food,
beverages, ice, and the like. The containers, whatever they may contain,
are useful but inconvenient to the user, for they are inevitably put in
some out-of-the-way place on the ground near the activity, but out of the
individual's traffic pattern. If the container is a heavy toolbox, the
mechanic is inevitably visiting the container many times during the
course of a repair job to retrieve the right tool for the job. The worker
will be repeatedly bending over many times a day to search through the
collection of tools in the ground-situated toolbox and suffer a sore back
as a consequence.

[0006]In the sport of recreational boating, the ordinary cooler is a
required companion. In the cooler are kept the food, beverages and
delicacies (plus ice) that comprise a large part of the purpose of the
adventure. The bigger the cooler, the better the adventure. However, the
price in space on the boat deck is considerable. As always, the cooler
must be relegated to an unobtrusive part of the boat deck, but a part
that is still conveniently accessible to crew and guests. That
requirement is hard to fulfill, given all the paraphernalia that winds up
competing for space on an active boat deck.

[0007]In that other segment of recreational boating, sport fishing, no
true sport fisherman has ever come across a tackle box that could be
called too big. The cockpit deck of the fishing boat may be cluttered
with large bait or tackle boxes containing, very nearby, the magical
lures, leaders and weights for a successful day of fishing. At the same
time, however, the essential bulky cooler must be near at hand with its
own convenient space and refreshments.

[0008]Clearly, there is a need to make access to large, bulky containers,
such as beverage coolers used in boating and other activities, more
convenient to the user. That task should be resolved without compromising
either the availability of space or the accessibility of available space.
The present invention turns to unique shelving configurations to overcome
the problem, and provides a foldable sturdy shelf that can be easily
stored when not in use.

[0009]Thus a cooler support shelf solving the aforementioned problems is
desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]The cooler support shelf comprises a rectangular platform having
each of two corners of one side of the platform perpendicularly connected
to separate vertical rails. The tops of the two vertical rails are curved
into a broad hook in the direction away from the platform. Diagonal
support struts are connected from opposing sides of the platform to the
lower part of each vertical rail. A horizontal stabilizer bar may be
connected between the diagonal support struts where they are connected to
the lower part of each vertical rail. Support struts are also connected
between the side of the platform connected to a vertical rail and the
opposing side. A hook and loop restraining strap is connected near the
top of each vertical rail. The two straps can connect around the cooler
to keep it in place on the platform.

[0011]In another embodiment, the cooler support shelf is folded toward the
vertical rails so that the cooler support shelf can be conveniently
stored and carried.

[0012]These and other features of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and
drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a cooler support
shelf according to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is an environmental perspective view of the cooler support
shelf installed over the gunwales of a boat.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the cooler support shelf of
the invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of a corner of a cooler
support shelf according to the present invention, showing a wing nut and
bolt for securing the shelf in an operative, cooler-supporting position.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a partial, perspective view of an optional support for a
corner of a cooler support shelf according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a partial elevational view of a cooler support shelf
according to the present invention, showing a bolt, washer and wing nut
securing the shelf at one end in an operative, cooler-supporting
position.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a partial, perspective view of a cooler support shelf
according to the present invention, showing a horizontal stabilizer bar
and a lower part of a vertical rail.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a partial, perspective view of a cooler support shelf
according to the present invention, showing the connection between a
horizontal stabilizer bar, a diagonal support strut and a lower part of a
vertical rail.

[0022]Referring to FIG. 1, a cooler 10 is supported on a generally
horizontal platform member 12 that is connected to main rail members 16
and 18. The top portions of the two main rails 16 and 18 are curved into
hooks 20, 30 (see FIG. 2), for hanging over the gunwales 22 of a boat 14.
The main rails 16 and 18 rest primarily against the freeboard 24 of the
boat. Diagonal support member rails 26 and 28 connect to a bottom portion
of the main rails 16 and 18, and to an outer side portion of the platform
member 12. A horizontal stabilizer bar 15 may extend between the
intersection of rails 26 and 18 and the intersection of rails 28 and 16.

[0023]Since the cooler 10 of FIG. 1 is placed outside the boat hull,
resting on the platform member 12 or shelf depicted in FIG. 1, with the
lid of the cooler 10 approximately level with the gunwale around the
cockpit, it is very convenient for passengers or crew to access the
beverages and food in the cooler 10. The position of the cooler 10 on the
supporting platform member 12 frees up several square feet of the limited
deck space in the boat's cockpit, lessening any crowding that may occur
and avoiding the necessity of bending over to access the contents of the
cooler 10.

[0024]Referring to FIG. 2, an open view of a cooler support shelf of the
invention is presented situated as in FIG. 1. The platform member 12 or
shelf is connected directly to the main rails 16 and 18 at the
intersections 32 and 34. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, platform member 12 is
formed from a substantially rectangular open frame having flat horizontal
members and a vertical flange or lip orthogonal to the horizontal members
around the periphery of the rectangular frame in order to retain the
cooler 10 on the platform member 12 without lateral shifting. A plurality
of slats 44, 45, and 46 extend across the rectangular frame to further
support the floor of the cooler 10. The frame forming platform member 12
is indirectly connected to the main rails through diagonal support member
rails 26 and 28 at the intersections 36, 38, 40, and one (unnumbered) not
seen in FIG. 2, respectively, where the unnumbered intersection is not
directly visible. When provided, the horizontal stabilizer bar 15 extends
between intersections 38 and 40, as described above. The connecting
fasteners at these intersections may be alike or different. The
connectors may be welding, nuts and threaded bolts, rivets, rotatable
studs or other structure commonly known in the art for connecting two
metal members.

[0025]Aluminum is the preferred material of construction for the cooler
support shelf of the invention, since it is lightweight and corrosion
resistant. However, steel may be employed, as well as engineering
plastics, such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl
chloride, Lexan® (polybisphenol-A carbonate, a registered trademark
of General Electric Corporation of Pittsfield, Massachusetts), polyesters
(polyethylene terephthalate), Delrin® (polyoxymethylene, a registered
trademark of E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del.),
polyamides, and like polymers.

[0026]Referring to FIG. 3, a frontal view of the cooler support shelf of
the invention is shown illustrating the platform member 12, vertical
shelf support rails 16 and 18, and additional support slats or strips 44,
45 and 46 connected to parallel members of the frame of the shelf. The
FIG. 3 also shows hook and loop fastener (also known as Velcro®
[Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. Limited
Liability Company of the Netherlands]) straps 42 for holding the cooler
10 on the platform member 12, by wrapping the straps 42 around the cooler
10 and connecting the straps 42 to the main rails 16 and 18. In FIG. 1 it
is shown how the straps 42 extend through the handle 11 of the cooler 10
and overlap one another to allow the hook and loop fasteners to engage
and hold the ends of the straps together. FIG. 3 also illustrates
vertical apertures 52 and 54, respectively, in the frame or platform
member 12 to engage with fasteners, e.g., bolts, washers and wing nuts
(explained in further detail below), for connecting the main rail to the
frame. Preferably, other connections 51 and 53 of the support rail and
platform frame are bolts or studs that can roll or rotate within the
aperture.

[0027]When the bolt and wing nut fasteners are so engaged, the platform
member 12 is extended and essentially perpendicular to the side of the
boat or whatever is supporting the main rails 16 and 18. When the bolts
and wing nuts are removed, the unrestrained edge of the platform member
12 can be lowered to fold the platform member 12 for transportation or
storage of the cooler support shelf.

[0028]Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the fasteners shown in FIG. 3 are
depicted in greater detail. FIG. 4 shows one wing nut 60 and its bolt 62
inserted through the aperture 54 (FIG. 3) and into and through an
aperture at intersection 34 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 5, optionally
platform corner support 56 is connected to a main rail 16 by suitable
means, such as welding. The platform corner support 56 should be
considered desired, but is optional. (It should be noted here that corner
support 56, bolt 62 and wing nut 60 are constructed the same at both of
the intersections 32 and 34.) Referring to FIG. 6, a flat washer 64 is
provided, which is common in the marine industry where bolts and wing
nuts are employed, in a vibration-intensive environment especially. The
removal of wing nut, bolt and washer fasteners 60, 62, 64 allows the
platform member 12 or cooler support shelf to be folded against vertical
rails 16, 18, by lowering the released platform member 12, thus providing
for compact storage of the invention.

[0029]To provide additional support and stability, a horizontal stabilizer
bar 15 may be provided extending between intersections 38 and 40. FIGS. 7
and 8 show the details of the connections between rails 18 and 26 and the
stabilizer bar 15. It should be understood that the connection between
rails 16, 28 and the stabilizer bar 15 is substantially a mirror image of
the connection between rails 18, 26 and the stabilizer bar 15, shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8. Both ends of bar 15 include threaded portions 77 for
receiving wing nuts 73 and 75. To assemble the connection initially, wing
nut 75 is first fully threaded onto threaded portion 77. Threaded portion
77 is placed through an aperture in the diagonal support member rail 26,
and wing nut 73 is loosely threaded onto threaded portion 77. Main rails
16 and 18 both include a slot 71 in their bottom portions. The bar 15 is
guided so that slot 71 accepts the threaded portion 79 between wing nuts
73 and 75 (diagonal support rail 26 is omitted in FIG. 7 for viewing
purposes). Wing nut 73 is then tightened to hold the connection together.
Once the connection has been initially assembled, in order to disassemble
the connection to allow the shelf to be folded, the wing nuts 73 on each
end of stabilizer bar 15 need only be loosened (not removed), to allow
the threaded portion 77 to be released from slot 71. This then allows the
platform 12 to be lowered (or raised if corner support 56 is provided).

[0030]While a preferred use for the cooler support shelf of the invention
is to support a cooler in marine applications, it is obvious to one
schooled in the art that the support shelf of the invention is useful for
the support of many items, including tackle boxes, bait boxes, scrub
pails, tool boxes, laundry hampers, fuel containers, toy boxes and the
like. Where the word cooler is used herein to describe the invention,
other applications obvious in the art are included with that term.

[0031]It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to
the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments
within the scope of the following claims.